H-1282.1
SUBSTITUTE HOUSE BILL 1048
State of Washington
69th Legislature
2025 Regular Session
By House Agriculture & Natural Resources (originally sponsored by Representatives Dent, Griffey, and Nance)
READ FIRST TIME 02/11/25.
AN ACT Relating to a rangeland fire protection association pilot project; adding new sections to chapter 76.04 RCW; creating a new section; and providing expiration dates.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. (1) The legislature finds that ranchers, farmers, rural property owners, and others who live and work in the rural areas of our state that are most susceptible to the threat of wildfire are uniquely situated, by virtue of their knowledge of the land and proximity to wildfires, to provide critical initial attack firefighting capabilities.
(2) Rangeland fire protection associations have the potential to offer a coordinated approach to wildland fire suppression by taking advantage of the quick initial attack capabilities of those already out on the land, addressing the desire of those living and working in wildland areas to be active participants in protecting the places where they live and work, ensuring that all those engaged in the wildland firefighting effort have the necessary training, equipment, and communications capabilities, and supporting the state's efforts to provide a complete, coordinated approach to wildland fire prevention, detection, and suppression.